Hacker News

Favorites Setup
Comment by stackghost | original | Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux
[−]stackghost · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:23 UTC · link
Not to be Debbie Downer but software licensing has no effect on what matters to billions of people.

We are facing very real global and societal issues that people on this site are actively exacerbating, like disinformation and climate change.

If a dude changing an inconsequential text file on GitHub gives you hope for the world, then please broaden your perspective.

[−]kaonwarb · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:29 UTC · link
Making one small corner of the world a little bit better is a good thing. There's not much use in complaining that it's not as big of an impact as could hypothetically be achieved on some larger issues.
[−]stackghost · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:34 UTC · link
It's things like this that rob my of my hope for the world.
[−]chermi · 2026-08-29 Sat 19:14 UTC · link
Lol. Someone liking this change is stupid for letting it lift their outlook, right? How stupid is it then to let this comment rob your hope.
[−]Barbing · 2026-08-30 Sun 01:35 UTC · link
:) Alternative reply to lighten mood in odd thread:

  Not to be Debbie Downer but making one small corner of the world a little bit better has no effect on what matters to billions of people.

  We are facing very real global and societal issues that people are actively exacerbating.

  If a dude explaining that there’s not much use in complaining robs you of hope for the world, then please broaden your perspective.
[−]chermi · 2026-08-30 Sun 03:47 UTC · link
You understand I'm on your side here, right?
[−]Barbing · 2026-08-30 Sun 07:28 UTC · link
Sorry yes, giving silly alt reply
[−]mrec · 2026-08-29 Sat 20:11 UTC · link
“He who would do good to another must do it in minute particulars. General good is the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite, and flatterer.” -- William Blake
[−]rewgs · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:30 UTC · link
You are indeed being a Debbie Downer.
[−]kian · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:37 UTC · link
So I'm guessing you don't do anything except what matters to billions of people? Always 100% fully generalized contributions, never making your local world a better place? Your only local contributions being to tell off people who are grateful that their lives are materially improved by someone else's smaller actions... You must be beloved by your community.
[−]literallyroy · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:51 UTC · link
I saw someone smile at the park the other day, do you think you could talk to them for me?
[−]yard2010 · 2026-08-29 Sat 17:56 UTC · link
Not GP but I feel like that's kinda their point - the fact that we still have this platform to collaborate in such an organic way is truly remarkable and must not be taken for granted.
[−]inigyou · 2026-08-29 Sat 18:34 UTC · link
Actually a lot of that bad stuff billionaires are doing is enabled by MIT licensed software. Like, device lockdown is illegal with GPL3
[−]LinuxIsntVeryGo · 2026-08-29 Sat 19:18 UTC · link
People are concerned about having homes to live in and having food to eat. They aren't concerned about 'device lockdown'. Try to see the bigger picture.
[−]inigyou · 2026-08-29 Sat 19:27 UTC · link
Device lockdown is why our biggest billionaires are billionaires. It's how they made their money and still make it.
[−]fg137 · 2026-08-30 Sun 10:37 UTC · link
If Apple starts allowing sideloading apps they'll still get at least 95% of their revenue today.

Just look at the s***show on Android.

[−]inigyou · 2026-08-30 Sun 15:40 UTC · link
No, Apple losing its 30% cut of all transactions made on iPhones is an existential risk to them.
[−]sicktriple · 2026-08-29 Sat 18:59 UTC · link
This is verifiably false. Without copyleft licensing like the GPL or permissive licensing like MIT and Apache we literally would not have the internet, or it would be somehow even more wildly dystopian and proprietary than it already is.
[−]sophrosyne42 · 2026-08-29 Sat 19:54 UTC · link
You must be fun at parties
[−]LastTrain · 2026-08-30 Sun 00:47 UTC · link
I think you like very much to be a debbie downer